Bedding article

ABSTRACT

A bedding article with four different available patterns, each of which is conveniently displayed with a minimum of adjustment. The article includes a first sheet having a first top side and a first bottom side. A second sheet likewise includes a second top side and a second bottom side. Reversible fixing structure is attached on the outer edge of both the first and second sheet. When the fixing structure is released, the first top side and the second bottom side may be hidden in the center to expose the first bottom side and the second top side. In preferred embodiments, the fixing structure is a zipper. In particularly preferred embodiments the zipper is disposed on only two of the four edges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a bed cover or similar article and more particularly to one which has four different sides available for display.

2. Background

Bedspreads or bed covers have been an integral part of bedroom decor for centuries. An early innovation was to design a cover with a pattern on opposite sides in order to provide additional diversity and aesthetic flexibility. In the quest for greater utility and optimum diversity, attempts have been made to design a cover with more than two usable patterns.

One such attempt is a foldable blanket with four different usable patterns, as disclosed in Broder, U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,269. The blanket is made of two sheets which are joined in the middle to form hinge elements. See FIGS. 1 and 2 and column 4, lines 12-21. By manipulation of the hinge elements, four different patterns, or sets of indicia, may be utilized.

This approach is also designed to allow the user to vary the thickness of insulation by such manipulation. See column 3, lines 31-35. A problem however, arises when the user desires to use a certain pattern on top, but is therefore required to use the cover with nonuniform thickness even though such an effect may not be desired.

In addition, the Broder blanket requires additional manufacturing, since the inside sheet surfaces must be initially made with two different patterns to achieve one pattern in use, due to the hinging action. Finally, the blanket disclosed in Broder is cumbersome to use, particularly if comparing different patterns. For example, if the blanket is in its initial state as shown at FIG. 2 (except fixed rather than loose as shown) and then the user decides he would like to compare the full triangle pattern (20C) with the full rectangle pattern (40C), this will require two separate re-adjustments of the cover.

What is needed is a cover which provides four different usable patterns, yet is convenient to use and provides uniform thickness and insulation for all four patterns. Also needed is a four-pattern cover which can be manufactured with uniform patterned layers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the need for a bedding article with four different available patterns, each of which is conveniently displayed with a minimum of adjustment. Further the present invention is inexpensively and simply manufactured.

The present bedding includes a first sheet having a first top side and a first bottom side. A second sheet likewise includes a second top side and a second bottom side. Reversible fixing structure is attached on the outer edge of both the first and second sheet. When the fixing structure is released, the first top side and the second bottom side may be hidden in the center to expose the first bottom side and the second top side. In preferred embodiments, the fixing structure is a zipper.

The first sheet typically has a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, and presents a longitudinal axis parallel to the second and fourth edges. Likewise, the second sheet typically has a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, and presents a longitudinal axis parallel to the second and fourth edges and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the first sheet. In particularly preferred embodiments the zipper is disposed on only two of the four edges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive article shown partially unzipped;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the article of FIG. 1, without the zipper;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an alternative embodiment, shown unzipped on three sides and open faced;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative article, utilizing buttons;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the article of FIG. 1, fully zipped; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view or the article of FIG. 1, turned inside out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the figures in general and FIG. 1 in particular, the preferred embodiment of an inventive article (which may be a quilt, bedcover or bedspread) 10, is shown in perspective having a first sheet 12, a second sheet 14 and a reversible zipper 16.

FIG. 2 shows article 10 in an exploded view, without zipper 16 for ease of illustration. First sheet 16 includes a first top side 18, a first sheet batting 20, and a first bottom side 22. First sheet 12 also has a first edge 24, a second edge 26, a third edge 28 and fourth edge 30. First sheet 12 presents a longitudinal axis 32, parallel with second and fourth edges 26 and 30 respectively. First top side 18 has indicia 34 i.e. cross-hatching. First bottom side 22 has indicia 36, i.e. vertical stripes. Indicia 36 are visible from above and below first bottom side 22, as will be made clear with reference to FIG. 6 below.

Second sheet 14 has a second top side 38, a second sheet batting 40 and a second bottom side 42. Second sheet 14 also has a first edge 44, a second edge 46, a third edge 48 and a fourth edge 50. Second sheet 14 also presents a longitudinal axis, indicated at reference numeral 52, parallel with second and fourth edges 46 and 50, respectively. Longitudinal axis 52 is aligned with that of longitudinal axis 32 of first sheet 12. Second top side 38 has indicia 54, i.e. charcoal patterning, and second bottom side 42 has indicia 56, i.e. horizontal stripes.

Referring again to FIG. 1, zipper 16 is attached at first edge 24 and second edge 26 of first sheet 12 as well as first edge 44 and second 46 of second sheet 14.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternative article 110 is shown unzipped and open to reveal second top side 38 of second sheet 14 on the left and first bottom side 22 of first sheet 12 on the right. Article 110 is unzipped and open so that first sheet 12 is on the left and second sheet 14 is on the right. The difference between article 10 of FIG. 1 and article 110 of FIG. 3 is zipper 116.

Still referring to FIG. 3, first sheet 12 has a first edge 24, a second edge 26, a third edge 28 and a fourth edge 30 strictly analogous to that of article 10. Likewise second sheet 14 includes a first edge 44, a second edge 46, a third edge 48 and fourth edge 50 also in strictly analogous fashion to that of article 10. Fourth edge 30 of first sheet 12 and fourth edge 50 of second sheet 14 are in mating engagement as will be readily noted by inspection. Zipper 116 is attached to first edge 24, second edge 26 and third edge 28 of first sheet 12, as well as, first edge 44, second edge 46 and third edge 48 of second sheet 14, in contrast to the two-edge zipper arrangement of article 10.

Referring now to FIG. 4, another alternative article 210 of the present invention is shown in perspective. The difference between article 210 of FIG. 4 and article 10 of FIG. 1 is that the reversible fixing structure for article 210 includes buttons 58 and button holes 60 in place of zipper 16 of FIG. 1. It will be noted that buttons 58 and button holes 60 are disposed on first edge 24 and second edge 26 of first sheet 12. Button holes 60 are formed in first top side 18, first sheet batting 20 and first bottom side 22 (only first top side 18 is visible in FIG. 4). Buttons 58 are anchored on second top side 38 (also not visible in FIG. 4). Alternatively, a pattern of buttons 58 and button holes 60 may also be positioned along third edge 28 for a three-edge arrangement analogous to the zippering system of article 110 of FIG. 3, if desired.

Generally referring to all embodiments of the invention, and without reference to the figures, many accessories may be used in conjunction with the inventive article. For example, a reversible bedskirt may be used with a complementary pattern on each side. A valance and matching pulls will have the same patterns as the bedskirt. Also, reversible pillows with patterns coordinated with the bedskirt and article may be used. In addition, curtains may be produced in in various styles and colors that will complement all four sides of the quilt.

In operation, and referring now to FIG. 5, article 10 is used as a conventional bedcover, i.e. by being placed on top of a bed (not shown for ease of illustration). Typically article 10 is positioned on the bed so that either first edge 24 or third edge 28 is at the head of the bed. For example, article 10 maybe placed on top of the bed with first edge 24 at the head of the bed with first top side 18 visible so as to display the indicia 34 for aesthetic effect. It will be readily appreciated if indicia 56, i.e. horizontal stripes on second bottom side 42, are desired (see FIG. 1), article 10 may simply flipped over for use. If either indicia 36 of first bottom side 22, i.e. vertical stripes, or indicia 54 of second top side 38, i.e. charcoal pattern, are desired to be displayed for aesthetic effect, the process of change is simple. Starting from the position shown in FIG. 5, article 10 is completely unzipped along first edge 24 and second edge 26 of first sheet 12 and first edge 44 and second edge 46 of second sheet 14. (See FIG. 1 where article 10 is partially unzipped). Next article 10 is manually turned “inside out” so that first bottom side 22 and second top side 38 are exposed to achieve the configuration shown in FIG. 6. Note that since article 10 has been turned inside out, first top side 18 and second bottom side 42 are essentially inside article 10 rather than outside. Next, zipper 16 is re-zipped to complete the process. Note that after the zipping is finished first top side 18 and second bottom side 42 are essentially hidden in the center of article 10. Then whichever indicia are desired maybe placed up, namely the indicia 36 of first bottom side 22, i.e. vertical stripes, or indicia 54 of second top side 38 i.e. charcoal pattern. Note that in FIG. 6 the position of the second edges 26, 46 and fourth edges 30, 50 (fourth edge 50 is not visible in FIG. 6) has been reversed because article 10 has been flipped over, relative to the position in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 3, selection of indicia to be displayed for article 110 is only slightly different. When a change is desired, article 110 is simply unzipped on first edge 24, second edge 26 and third edge 28 of first sheet 12 as well as first edge 44, second edge 46 and third edge 48 of second sheet 14. Article 110 is then opened up to achieve the configuration shown in FIG. 3. First sheet 12 and second sheet 14 are then simply folded back together appropriately so that second top side 38 of second sheet 14 and first bottom side 22 of sheet 12 are exposed and first top side 18 and second bottom side 42 are hidden in the center of article 110. Article 110 is then re-zipped and whichever side is appropriate is placed faced up to display the appropriate indicia.

Referring to FIG. 4, article 210 maybe changed in a fashion analogous with article 10 of FIG. 1. If for example indicia 54 of second top side 38 of second sheet 14, i.e. charcoal pattern, is desired, all buttons 58 are unfastened from button holes 60 on first edge 24 and second edge 26 of first sheet 12. Next article 210 is folded inside out in the same fashion that article 10 would be after being unzipped so that first bottom side 22 and second top side 38 are exposed. Then buttons 58 are simply refastened in button holes 60. Finally, article 210 is appropriately positioned so that the desired indicia (either 54 or 36) are displayed face-up on the bed.

In this fashion, bedding articles 10, 110, 210 offer four different decorative patterns, any of which may be displayed with a minimum of manipulation to reveal the desired side. This utility is accomplished while maintaining even thickness of insulation. In contradistinction the Broder blanket disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,269 requires that if a certain side is to be displayed, such can only be achieved by folding layers so that an uneven thickness is necessitated. For example, if the triangle pattern 20C, show in FIG. 2 is desired, hinged portion 14/24 must be rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 to expose the uniform and complete triangle pattern 20C. It will be readily appreciated that this results in an uneven thickness, i.e. the Broder blanket will be much thicker on the left than on the right as viewed in FIG. 2 thereof

It should be apparent that the invention not only accomplishes the major functions required from such articles but does so in a particularly advantageous manner. It should be equally apparent, however, that various minor and equivalent modifications from the embodiments disclosed herein for illustrative purposes could be employed without departing from the essence of the invention. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention should be regarded as encompassing not only the subject matter literally defined by the claims which follow, but also technical equivalents thereof. For example, the rectangular shape of the inventive article is not necessary and other indicia patterns (e.g. a floral pattern, team logos, etc.), may be substituted. 

1. A bedding article comprising: a first sheet having a first top side and a first bottom side, and presenting a longitudinal axis; a second sheet having a second top side and a second bottom side, also presenting a longitudinal axis aligned with that of the first sheet; and reversible fixing structure attached on the outer edge of both the first and second sheet such that when the fixing structure is released the first top side and the second bottom side may be hidden in the center to expose the first bottom side and the second top side.
 2. The bedding article of claim 1 wherein the fixing structure includes a zipper.
 3. The bedding article of claim 1 wherein the fixing structure includes at least one button affixed to the first sheet proximal the outer edge of the first sheet.
 4. The bedding article of claim 1 wherein the first bottom side of the first sheet presents a uniform decorative pattern appearing on substantially all of the first bottom sheet.
 5. A bedding article comprising: a first sheet having a first top side and a first bottom side, and a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, the first sheet presenting a longitudinal axis parallel with the second and fourth edges; a second sheet having a second top side and a second bottom side, and a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, the second sheet also presenting a longitudinal axis aligned with that of the first sheet; and reversible fixing structure attached on the first and second edges of both the first and second sheet such that when the fixing structure is released the first top side and the second bottom side may be hidden in the center to expose the first bottom side and the second top side.
 6. The bedding article of claim 5 wherein the fixing structure includes a zipper.
 7. The bedding article of claim 5 wherein the fixing structure includes at least one button affixed to the first sheet proximal the outer edge of the first sheet.
 8. A bedding article comprising: a first sheet having a first top side and a first bottom side, and a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, the first sheet presenting a longitudinal axis parallel with the second and fourth edges; a second sheet having a second top side and a second bottom side, and a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, the second sheet also presenting a longitudinal axis aligned with that of the first sheet; and reversible fixing structure attached on the first, second and third edges of both the first and second sheet such that when the fixing structure is released, the first top side and the second bottom side may be hidden in the center to expose the first bottom side and the second top side.
 9. The bedding article of claim 8 wherein the fixing structure includes a zipper.
 10. The bedding article of claim 8 wherein the fixing structure includes at least one button affixed to the first sheet proximal the outer edge of the first sheet. 